Rheumatoid Arthritis: Petrović-Rackov L

Petrović-Rackov L. · Vojnomedicinska akademija Klinika za reumatologiju i klinicku imunologiju. · Med Pregl. · Pubmed #16526229 No free full text.

Abstract: The aim of this research was to determine the clinical significance of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-12, IL-15 and IL-18 in evaluation of the activity of rheumatoid arthritis. Cytokine concentrations in serum samples and synovial fluid were measured by immunoenzymatic methods using kits for human interleukins and the Disease Activity Score 28 in 64 patients with active disease. The control group consisted of 25 subjects with arthritis of the knee and osteoarthrosis. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis have significantly high (p < 0.01) concentrations of examined cytokines in relation to patients with osteoarthritis. By comparing concentrations in 30 patients with high, 14 patients with moderate and 20 patients with mild activity of rheumatoid arthritis, it was established that patients with high degree of disease activity have significantly high (p<0.01; p<0.05) concentrations of examined cytokines in the blood and synovial fluid in relation to patients with moderate and mild disease. We have concluded that cytokine concentrations are good indicators of the degree of rheumatoid arthritis activity. This research is a contribution to understanding the insufficiently known pathogenetic mechanisms of cytokines, especially IL-18, in active disease.

Petrović-Rackov L. · Vojnomedicinska akademija, Klinika za reumatologiju i klinicku imunologiju, Beograd. · Vojnosanit Pregl. · Pubmed #16471244 No free full text.

Abstract: BACKGROUND/AIM: Experimental in vitro and in vivo investigations in a mouse model have proved that TNF-alpha, IL12, IL-15 and IL18 participate in the pathogenesis of erosive inflammatory arthritis. The aim of this research was to determine the clinical significance of cytokines in the evaluation of the activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Inside a 4-year period we followed-up 64 patients with RA as newly ocurred or in the phase of worsening. We observed the clinical manifestation of the disease upon which we divided the patients in to 3 groups: the patients with low active RA, patients with moderate active RA, and the patients with wild active RA. The control group (n=25 patients) included the patients with osteoarthrosis (OA), and arthritis of the knee. In the samples of serum of all of the patients the concentratin of cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-12, IL-15, and IL-18 were determined using the immunoenzymatic methods in mice for human interleukines. By comparing the concentrations in 30 patients with the high, 14 patiens with moderate, and 20 patiens with the mild activity of RA it was determined that the patients with the high degree of the disease activity, had significantly high (p < 0.01; p < 0.05) concentrations of the examined cytokines in blood and synovial fluid as compared to the patients with the moderate and mild active disease. There was a relationship (p < 0.01) between the concentrations of cytokines in blood and synovial fluid with the quantity of the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints. CONCLUSIONS: Cytokines concentrations could be good indicators of the degree of the general activity of RA. This research could contribute to the interpretation of insufficiently well known views of the pathogenesis role and significance of citokines in an active disease.